This document discusses sustainable energy and climate action planning in cities through district energy developments. It describes how district energy contributes to sustainable energy goals in city climate plans like SEAPs and SECAPs. These plans aim to reduce emissions and transition to low carbon energy systems by 2020, 2030, and 2050. District energy is identified as a key mitigation option in these plans through measures like upgrading infrastructure, utilizing waste heat recovery, and providing heating solutions to industries. The future of climate plans will focus on leveraging clean decentralized energy, promoting district heating as a mitigation strategy, and including adaptation criteria in energy infrastructure planning to increase urban sustainability.

1. • Sustainable energy and climate action planning
to enhance low carbon district energy
developments
By: ICLEI Europe
Alis Daniela Torres

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Content
1. Sustainable energy and climate action planning in cities
2. District energy (heating and cooling) contribution to
sustainable energy and climate action in cities
3. The future ahead for district energy in cities sustainability

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Source: Climate KIC, Priority Lines of Action, 2018 / US Department of Energy and Enwave USA. / www.uitp.org/
Promote retrofit, clean
and decentralized energy
Create green,
resilient cities
Accelerate clean
urban mobility
1. Sustainable Energy & Climate Action Planning in
Cities
Innovation drivers and urban transition goals

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2018
Sustainable Energy Action Planning Sustainable Energy & Climate Action Planning
1. Sustainable Energy & Climate Action Planning in Cities
Processes and evolution
2020 goals 2030 – 2050 goals
Source: Joint Research Center, 2016. International Urban Cooperation Program, 2018

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1. Sustainable Energy & Climate Action Planning in
Cities
Processes, content and key global stakeholders
Mitigation
(Low Carbon Cities)
Adaptation
(Resilient Cities)
Secure,
sustainable
& affordable
energy
Strategy Emissions
Inventory
Action Plan Score-
board
Strategy Risks &
Vulnerabilities
Action Plan Under
development
SEAP (Convenant of Mayors) Mayors Adapt Initiative
SECAP (Convenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy)
CAP (Global Convenant of Mayors)
EU
LEVEL
NON-EU
LEVEL
Source: International Urban Cooperation Program, 2016
Energy
poverty
focus

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1. Sustainable Energy & Climate Action Planning in
Cities
ICLEI role and activities
Contribute to global and
EU efforts to foster
sustainable energy and
climate action and
planning.
Support cities / regions
to develop SE(C)APs,
through specialized
advise and capacity
building processes.
Develop research
projects that promote
and facilitate
sustainable energy and
climate action planning
in cities.

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2. District Energy in SE(C)AP Processes
Approach to city energy systems for signatory cities
SEAPs
DHC included
as a type of
local energy
supply
Identification
of DHC
improvements
on the supply
& demand
side.
SECAPs
DHC as KPI for
final energy
consumption
District energy
as key GHG
emissions
source
DCH
improvements
and
developments,
included as
mitigation
option
Source: SEAP Guide, 2013. SECAP Template and Reporting Guidelines, 2016.
Approach
City
Energy
Systems

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Heating and Cooling consumption and production in final energy consumption. (2016)
Covenant of Mayors signatories cities
Source. Joint Research Center, Convenant of Mayors in figures. 8-years assessment report, 2017.
2. District Energy in SE(C)AP Processes
Relevance and impact in district energy developments

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SE(C)APs  Plans must contain a clear outline of the strategic actions that the local
authority intends to take in order to reach its commitments in 2020, 2030 and 2050
Mitigation
Adaptation
Energy
Access/
Energy
Poverty
Mitigation Actions  Detailed measures translating goals into actions,
with assigned responsibilities, cost estimations, impact estimations , etc.
Energy Efficiency
Renewable energy
generation
....
Smart local heat/cold production
New developments
(i.e waste heat
recovery)
Infrastructure
upgrade and
modernization
District heating
solutions for
industry energy
efficiency
2. District Energy in SE(C)AP Processes
DHC as a mitigation option
Source: SEAP Guide, 2013. SECAP Template and Reporting Guidelines, 2016.

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SE(C)AP
Evolution &
UpgradeMitigation Adaptation Affordable,
secure, clean
energy
Climate
Ambition
(goals)
2020
goals
2050
goals
Berlin
Granoliers
Jelgava
CascaisIslingtonWarsaw
London
Alba Iulia
3. The future ahead for SE(C)AP in cities
THERMOS CITIES
Source. SEAPs & SECAPs review of THERMOS Cities, under EU Convenant of Mayors Platform

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• Leverage the importance of clean
and decentralized district energy
options in SECAP processes.
• Promote sustainable DHC
initiatives as a key mitigation
options.
• Introducing adaptation and
resilience criteria in energy
infrastructure planning processes.
• Raising awareness on low carbon
energy developments for urban
sustainability.
Source. University of Aalborg. District Energy Report UNEP & ICLEI 2015.
3. The future ahead for SE(C)AP for cities

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THANK YOU
By: ICLEI Europe
Alis Daniela Torres
Alis-daniela.torres@iclei.org
@alisdaniela